Ampoule breaker



June 17, 1969 R. w. RAY ET AL AMPOULF BREAKER Filed March 16, 1967INVENTORS RICHARD W. RAY STEPHEN P. CAMPBELL,JR.

BY ,MW

M14141! ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 225l04 8 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE An ampoule breaker for breaking an ampoule at aspecified location intermediate its ends. The breaker includes twospaced leg members llexibly connected together at one end for receivingthe ampoule in longitudinal alignment therebetween and ampoule engagingsurfaces engaging against the ampoule on one side thereof at thespecified location where it is to be broken and at two spaced locationson the diametrically opposite side of the ampoule offset longitudinallyof the specified location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionpertains to art of ampoule breaking devices and more particularly to anampoule breaker for breaking an ampoule at the reduced neck portionthereof with a snapping action.

Description of the prior art The typical ampoule is constructed of glassand comprises a body portion and tapered tip connected together by aneck portion of reduced cross-sectional dimension. The ampoule ishermetically sealed by melting the end of the glass tip and is designedfor holding a quantity of liquid which may, for instance, be requiredfor use in filling hypodermics and in connection with conductinglaboratory experiments or tests or for any other similar purpose whereit is convenient or necessary to have individual quantities of theliquid available. In order to dispense the liquid from the ampoule, theampoule must be broken and this is usually effected by breaking throughthe neck which is prescored to facilitate breaking of the glass at theproper location. The actual breaking of the ampoule may be accomplishedeither by holding the ampoule between ones fingers and thumbs andapplying lateral pressure against the tip or by using speciallyconstructed breaking devices. Breaking of the ampoule does, however,present problems of contamination and spilling of the liquid and injuryto the user.

Where the ampoule is manually broken by holding it in ones hands,contact with splintered glass or the ragged edges of the broken halvesoften causes cut fingers. Also, in manually breaking the ampoule, it isusually necessary to place ones thumbs at the scored neck and to applyfinger pressure against the tip and body on the diametrically oppositeside of the ampoule. This not only increases the chances of cutting onesthumbs but also produces a condition where the thumbs upon contactingthe broken end of the body of the ampoule contaminate the liquidcontained therein.

To avoid the problems associated with manual breaking of ampoules,ampoule breaking devices have been constructed in which the ampoule maybe held. These devices may lessen the chances of injury to the personsfingers; but as conventionally constructed, present other disadvantages.For example, they are usually constructed with a guillotine type ofblade arrangement for breaking through the neck of the ampoule with asevering action or are provided with a swinging hammer for knockingagainst the tip of the ampoule to effect breaking. These types ofbreakers typically cause crushing of the glass at the point of breakingwith the result that the crushed glass particles fall into the open endof the body and contaminate the liquid. Also, presently .availablebreaking devices are generally complicated in construction with a numberof separate parts being required to .produ-ce the device. This not onlyrequires assembly of these parts during the manufacture of the devicesbut adds to their overall cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention, there is provided an ampoule breaker which avoids thedisadvantages associated with manual breaking as well as thosecharacteristic of conventional breaking devices. With applicants ampoulebreaker, the persons fiugers need not contact the ampoule at the pointof breakage nor is the glass crushed during such breaking. Instead aclean break is effected and the broken tip readily falls clear of thebody.

In construction, the ampoule breaker is made as a single piece structurefrom a suitable material such as plastic which is flexible in thincross-sectional shapes but relatively rigid in thick cross-sectionalshapes. The ampoule breaker generally comprises two spaced leg membersflexibly connected together and provided with an opening for thereception of the ampoule. Each of the opposed leg members is providedwith a rib extending toward the other leg member and terminating in anampoule engaging surface. One of these surfaces engages against the neckof the ampoule on one side thereof while the other engages against thetip on the diametrically opposite side. In addition, the opening in thebreaker includes its own ampoule engaging surface for engaging againstthe body of the ampoule so that one point of contact on one side of theampoule is produced at the neck of the ampoule and two additional pointsof contact are made with the tip and body on the diametrically oppositeside of the ampoule much in the same way as would occur where a personwere to hold the ampoule between his fingers and thumbs to effect abreaking at the neck with a snapping action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of theampoule breaker of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the ampoule breaker with an ampoulereceived therein preparatory to breaking;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the ampoule breaker showing theposition of the ampoule therein immediately prior to breaking; and

FIG. 4 is -a side elevation showing the ampoule breaker and ampouleimmediately after a breaking of the rampoule has been effected.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the accompanyingdrawings, the ampoule breaker constructed in accordance with theteachings of the present invention is a single piece structure andincludes first and second leg members 1 and 2 which are connectedtogether at their ends by integrally formed end members 3 and 4. Thelines of demarcation between the leg members and the end members areshown in FIG. 2 by the dotted lines AA and BB. The members 3 and 4include openings 5 and 6, respectively, extending therethrough for thereception of an ampoule 7. The ampoule itself includes a body 8 andtapered tip 9 connected together by a neck 10 which is scored as shownat 11 to facilitate breaking; and as indicated by both the solid anddotted outline of an ampoule 7, insertion into the ampoule breaker maybe advantageously effected through either of the openings or 6.

For purposes of holding the ampoule in position within the breakerpreparatory to breaking, a first rib 12 is integrally formed with thefirst leg member 1 while a second rib 13 is integrally formed with thesecond leg member 2. The first rib extends laterally across the firstleg member 1 and toward the second leg member and terminates in anampoule engaging surface 14 and associated side surfaces 15. The secondrib 13 is similarly oriented on the second leg member 2 and terminatesin a second ampoule engaging surface 16 and associated side surfaces 17.

The surfaces 14 and of the rib 12 are adapted to en- I gage the neck ofthe ampoule when inserted through the opening 6 with the surface 14engaging against the upper side of the ampoule as seen in FIG. 2 and theside surfaces 15 against the lateral sides to retain the ampoule inlongitudinal alignment with the leg members. Also, with the ampouleinserted through the opening 6, the surface 16 of the rib 13 engagesagainst the tip of the ampoule on its lower side as viewed in FIG. 2,that is, on the diametrically opposite side of the ampoule from thelocation of engagement between the neck and the first engaging surface14 of the rib 12. It will be apparent from FIG. 2 that when the ampouleis inserted through the opening 5 instead of the opening 6, the neckrests on the engaging surface 16 of the rib 13 and the tip on theengaging surface 14 of the rib 12; and to permit this reversearrangement, the ribs 12 and 13 are advantageously spaced at equaldistances from the openings 6 and 5, respectively. In addition, tofacilitate guiding of the ampoule into proper opposed position relativeto either one of the ribs 12 or 13, their facing sides are constructedwith curved guiding surfaces 18 and 19, respectively, against which theforward tip of the ampoule may slide.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the ampoulebreaker is constructed with certain portions which are flexible andother portions which are generally rigid. In particular, the two endmembers 3 and 4 are constructed so as to flex upon pressure beingexerted on the outer sides of the leg members 1 and 2 in a directiontending to force the leg members toward each other. For this purpose,the entire breaker is made of plastic or other similar material havingnormal flexible properties where relatively thin or small in crosssection. As shown in FIG. 1, the cross-sectional dimension of the endmembers in the areas to each side of the openings 5 and 6 is quite smallthus permitting flexing at these locations about the axes designated bythe lines C-C and DD.

In addition to the end members, the portion of the leg member 1 disposedopposite the rib 13 and the portion of the leg member 2 disposedopposite the rib 12 are each constructed with a reduced cross-sectionalthickness so as to permit flexing as shown in FIG. 4. The ribsthemselves, however, as well as the remaining portions of the legmembers are thick enough to be rigid. This construction aids inproducing a clean breaking of the ampoule as more fully described below.

To break an ampoule, the breaker is used as follows. First, the ampouleis inserted through one of the openings 5 or 6. With reference to FIGS.3 and 4, the opening 6 is used for purposes of explanation. As theampoule is inserted, the forward tip rides along the curved guidingsurface 19 of the rib 13 and the bulbous part of the tip passes by thesurfaces 14 and 15 of the rib 12 until the ampoule is seated with theneck in opposed relationship relative to the rib 13. The flexibility ofthe end members and the localized portions of the leg members permit theleg members to spread apart slightly, if necessary, as the bulbous partof the tip is directed past the rib 12. The surfaces 14, 15 of the rib12 as seen from FIG. 1 are complementary in shape' to the semi-circularshape of the neck of the ampoule and thus the rib 12 acts as a stopagainst which the body portion of the ampoule abuts to limit its inwardmovement through the opening 6. Also, the rib 12 serves to hold theampoule in place once it is inserted into the position shown in FIG. 1by its close engagement with the neck of the ampoule.

With the ampoule in place, the breaker may be conveniently held in onehand with the ampoule in an upright position and with one or morefingers of the hand engaging against the outer surface of one of the legmembers and the thumb against the outer surface of the other leg memberas shown in FIG. 3. The leg members are then squeezed toward eachother;'and as this squeezing action is commenced, the rib 12 presses thetip of the ampoule into firm engagement with the engaging surface 16 ofthe rib 13 and the body of the ampoule against the wall portion 20 ofthe opening 6 which faces in the same direction as the surface 16. Thewall portion 20 of the opening 6 thus acts as a third ampoule engagingsurface for cooperating with the ampoule engaging surfaces of the ribs12 and 13; and as is evident from FIG. 1, the side portions 21 of thewall surface of the opening 6 define side surfaces preventing sidewaysmovement of the ampoule.

The position of the leg members and ribs of the breaker relative to theampoule as the squeezing action is commenced is shown in FIG. 3. Due tothe construction of the breaker and in particular the orientation of theflexible and rigid portions, the squeezing of the leg members togethercauses the ribs to move not only toward the opposed leg members but in adirection away from each other as measured along the longitudinal axisEE of the breaker. This movement is shown in FIG. 3 where the dottedlines represent the normal position of the ribs before squeezing iscommenced. This movement of the ribs acts against the tip and body ofthe ampoule tending to move them in opposite directions along thelongitudinal axis of the breaker; and such movement becomes morepronounced as the squeezing of the leg members continues and a breakageat the neck is effected as best shown in FIG. 4.

The actual breaking of the ampoule is produced by the pressure exertedon the neck by the engaging surface 14 of the rib 12 on one side of theampoule and by the pressure exerted on the diametrically opposite sideof the ampoule by the engaging surface 16 of the rib 13 against the tipof the ampoule and the engaging surface 20 of the wall portion of theopening 6 against the body. This breaking action produces a clean breakat the neck without crushing of the glass much in the same way as theampoule would be broken by holding it between the fingers and thumbs ofones hands. In addition, the spreading of the ribs away from each otherassists in assuring that the tip and body separate from each other asbreakage occurs to prevent the broken edges from rubbing against eachother and thereby causing crushing of the glass.

The above description of the present invention has been made withreference to the presently preferred embodiment of the breaker; however,it is to be understood that various changes thereto may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. An ampoule breaker for use with an elongated ampoule having a bodyand a tip connected by a neck for separating the tip from the body bybreaking through the neck thereof, said breaker comprising:

(a) spaced first and second leg members flexibly connected together atone end thereof;

(b) an opening extending between the other ends of said leg members forreceiving said ampoule with the longitudinal axis of said ampouleextending along the longitudinal axis of said leg members and with thetip, neck and a portion of the body disposed therebetween;

(c) a first rib extending from said first leg member toward said secondleg member and terminating in a first ampoule engaging surface forengaging against one side of said ampoule at the neck thereof;

(d) a second rib extending from said second leg member toward said firstleg member at a location offset longitudinally along said leg membersfrom said first rib and terminating in a second ampoule engaging surfacefor engaging against the tip of said ampoule on the other side thereofdiametrically opposite to the location of engagement between the neck ofthe ampoule and the first ampoule engaging surface of said first rib;and

(e) a third ampoule engaging surface defined by a portion of the wallsurface of said opening and facing in the same direction as said secondampoule engaging surface at a location offset longitudinally along saidleg members from said first rib on the side thereof opposite said secondrib for engaging against the body of said ampoule on said other sidethereof.

2. An ampoule breaker according to claim 1 wherein:

(a) each of said ampoule engaging surfaces extend laterally to thelongitudinal axis of said leg members; and

(b) at least two of said ampoule engaging surfaces include sideretaining surfaces disposed in the plane of the engaging surfaces andfacing laterally thereof for engaging the sides of said ampouleintermediate the sides which engage against the engaging surfaces toretain said ampoule in longitudinal alignment with said leg members.

3. An ampoule breaker for use with an elongated glass ampoule having abody and a tapered tip connected by a scored neck of reducedcross-sectional dimension for separating the tip from the body bybreaking through the neck thereof, said breaker comprising:

(a) spaced first and second leg members extending generally parallel toeach other and connected at their ends by curved flexible members formedintegrally therewith;

(b) an opening extending through at least one of said curved flexiblemembers intermediate said leg members for receiving said ampoule inlongitudinal alignment with said leg members with the tip, neck and aportion of said body disposed therebetween;

(c) a first rib formed integrally with said first leg memberintermediate said flexible members and extending laterally thereacrossand toward said second leg member and terminating in a first ampouleengaging surface for engaging against one side of said ampoule at theneck thereof;

(d) a second rib formed integrally with said second leg memberintermediate said flexible members and extending laterally thereacrossand toward said first leg member at a location offset longitudinallyalong said leg members from said first rib and terminating in a secondampoule engaging surface for engaging against the tip of said ampoule onthe other side thereof diametrically opposite to the location ofengagement between the neck of the ampoule and (e) a third ampouleengaging surface defined by a portion of the wall surface of the openingin said flexible member and facing in the same direction as said secondampoule engaging surface for engaging against the body of said ampouleon said other side thereof.

4. An ampoule breaker according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) each of said flexible members are provided with an opening extendingtherethrough for the insertion of an ampoule; and

(b) the spacing of said first rib member from the opening in one of saidflexible members is the same as the spacing of said second rib memberfrom the opening in the other of said flexible members whereby saidampoule may be inserted through either of said openings with the neck,tip and body of said ampoule in engagement with said first, second andthird ampoule engaging surfaces, respectively.

5. An ampoule breaker according to claim 4 for use with an ampoulehaving a circular cross section at any the first ampoule engagingsurface of said first rib;

and

point along its length wherein:

(a) each of said ampoule engaging surfaces includes side retainingsurfaces, which together with said ampoule engaging surfaces thereof aresemi-circular in shape, for retaining said ampoule in longitudinalalignment with said leg members.

6. An ampoule breaker according to claim 5 wherein:

(a) each of said first and second ampoule engaging surfaces andassociated side retaining surfaces are complementary in shape to thesemi-circular shape of the neck of said ampoule.

7. An ampoule breaker according to claim 6 wherein:

(a) the portions of said first and second leg members disposed oppositesaid second and first ribs, respectively, are flexible in construction;

(b) the remaining portions of said leg members are rigid inconstruction; and

(c) said first and second ribs are rigid in construction.

8. An ampoule breaker according to claim 7 wherein:

(a) the sides of said ribs facing each other are each provided withcurved guiding surfaces for guiding the tip of said ampoule into opposedrelationship with the ampoule engaging surface thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,147,394 2/1939 Austern 241-1692,359,644 10/ 1944 Hoey.

2,425,093 8/ 1947 Fosler.

2,488,956 11/ 1949 Yeskett.

2,503,517 4/1950 Sirica.

2,507,097 5/ 1950 Fields.

2,507,187 5/1950 Terry 51205 2,515,020 7/ 1950' Scott.

LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner. JAMES F. MCKEOWN, AssistantExaminer.

US. Cl. X.R.

